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Lin-Manuel Miranda, the famous producer, writer, and composer, has just issued an apology related to “colorism”. This happened after many critics went after his new musical, "In the Heights," for not featuring more diverse actors to represent the New York City neighborhood.
The production, which is now available in U.S. theaters and streaming on HBO Max, is based in the largely Latino New York City neighborhood, Washington Heights. This is where Miranda spent his childhood.
How did it all happen?
On Monday the producer sent out a lengthy statement in which he admitted that he had “fallen short” when “trying to paint a mosaic of this community,” as The Blaze reported.
“I started writing it because I didn't feel seen. And over the past 20 years all I wanted was for us, all of us, to feel seen. I'm seeing the discussion around Afro-Latino representation in our film this weekend and it is clear that many in our dark-skinned Afro-Latino community don't feel sufficiently represented within it, particularly among the leading roles,” the producer wrote.
“I can hear the hurt and frustration over colorism, over feeling unseen in the feedback. I hear that without sufficient dark-skinned Afro-Latino representation, the work feels extractive of the community we wanted so much to represent with pride and joy,” he added.
Miranda pointed out that he is “truly sorry” and that he is now “learning from the feedback.”
“I thank you for raising it, and I'm listening. I'm trying to hold space for both the incredible pride in the movie we made and be accountable for our shortcomings.
Thanks for your honest feedback. I promise to do better in my future projects, and I’m dedicated to the learning and evolving we all have to do to make sure we are honoring our diverse and vibrant community,” the producer concluded about the New York City musical.